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Liputan6.com, Ottawa – More than 100 candidates, including a former police chief, a comedian and even a dog, are vying for the chance to become mayor of Toronto, Canada.

Reported The gardiansOn Wednesday (5/17/2023), exactly 102 people officially registered as candidates for mayor of Toronto in the election to be held at the end of June.

Molly, a seven-year-old rescue dog, was one of the last-minute applicants. His owner, Toby Heaps, arrives at City Hall on roller skates and declares that he is the dog’s representative.

Toby tells Molly that her biggest worry is the use of salt on the streets during the city’s winter, which hurts her feet. Molly’s win, Toby claims, will generate more “civilized talk” at board meetings.

“You might notice that when there are animals in the room, people become more human,” Toby said.

Toronto’s mayoral election came after John Tory, who served three terms as mayor, suddenly resigned in February after admitting to having an affair with a former member of his staff. In fact, the Conservatives had only been re-elected four months earlier.

Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie currently serves as acting mayor and will not be running in the next election.

Olivia Chow, who finished third in the 2014 mayoral race won by the Conservatives, is seen as the current favorite.

However, Ontario Premier Doug Ford is reportedly backing former police chief Mark Saunders.

“We need someone who has experience fighting crime… We need someone who knows Toronto as a whole, not the little neighborhood it represents, but all of Toronto” , Ford said.